[WATCH] South Africa star reacts to Proteas' lack of Test matches in next WTC 2025-27 cycle

South Africa won the third cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 against the defending champions Australia at the iconic ground at Lord’s. Many Protea fans and the upcoming generation of players in the longest format truly lived the moment and perhaps had dreamt of achieving it in the future. But how?

South Africa won’t play any home Test in their next season. That’s a harsh truth: that the current WTC champions will be without a home Test match for more than a year because they have sandwiched the SA20 between the away Pakistan series and the upcoming T20 World Cup. And Kagiso Rabada, their premier pacer, has displayed his disappointment on that aspect.

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“This has been an issue we have been talking about for the past three years, or even longer. The nice thing is that it’s good to see that Test match cricket is still, you know, being watched and watched with closed eyes. I mean, there have been some really fantastic games that have been played. So, that’s well and truly alive.” Rabada expressed during the recent interaction on Sky Sports Cricket.

Watch: Kagiso Rabada laments South Africa’s lack of Tests

They will also play two away Tests in India. Next year, they will host Australia for four Test matches. However, this lack of red-ball fixtures won’t be an advantage for the Proteas for the next WTC cycle. Rabada said that money is the last thing that everyone is after in this era.

“Unfortunately, now, the game is more about money. You know, what’s going to make the most money, and that’s the challenge that you are looking at right now, it comes to more of an inclusivity for the other cricketing nations because, let’s talk a fact here, is that you need all the other nations to make world cricket. And that’s been a challenge.” The current pacer claimed.

The opening Test of the away Pakistan series will begin on October 12 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore before the action shifts to the Rawalpindi Stadium for the second encounter on October 20.